NY unemployment says my claim is assigned to a worker - how long to process?

When your claim gets assigned to a worker, it typically means there's some issue they need to manually review. In 2025, NYSDOL is taking anywhere from 2-6 weeks to complete these reviews, unfortunately. It depends on what the specific issue is with your claim. Did they tell you why it needed review?

same thing happened to me last month, took 4 weeks and 2 days from when they told me it was assigned until I finally got paid. hang in there!

the whole systems a JOKE!!! I had my claim "assigned" for SEVEN WEEKS before they fixed it. kept telling me different things every time i called. one person says wait, next says theres a problem with employer verification, next says everything looks fine... MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!!

From my experience working with many claims like this, when they say it's "assigned to a worker" it usually means one of these things: 1. Identity verification issue 2. Employer wage discrepancy 3. Work separation reason needs clarification 4. Potential overpayment investigation 5. Missing documentation Unfortunately, the standard process time is 3-5 weeks in 2025 due to the current backlog. Your best bet is to ensure you've uploaded all possible documentation to your online account and check your message inbox daily for any requests.

I was in the exact same situation a couple months ago and couldn't get through to anyone for WEEKS. Finally used Claimyr to get through to an actual agent (claimyr.com) - they have this system that calls for you and gets you through the phone maze. Costs money but totally worth it because I found out my claim needed additional documentation they never told me about! Fixed it that day and got paid the following week. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

btw did u check ur documnts section on the website? sometimes they request stuff there but dont send email notification

I think the assigned to worker status means they flagged something on your application. Mine was in that status because my employer reported different wages than what I put. It took exactly 31 days from when it was assigned until it was finally approved. I tried calling too but nobody could tell me anything useful either. The whole system is designed to be frustrating I think.

Just to add something important - make sure you continue certifying for benefits each week even while your claim is under review. Once they resolve the issue, they'll release all payments for weeks you properly certified for. Many people make the mistake of not certifying while waiting for resolution and then have to go through another process to claim those back weeks.

my cousin works at NYSDOL (not telling which office lol) and she says theyre massively understaffed right now. like each worker has hundreds of claims to review. not saying its right but thats why everythings taking forever in 2025

Update on timeframes based on recent cases I've worked with: For claims assigned to a worker in February 2025, the average resolution time has been 24 business days (about 4-5 weeks calendar time). However, if you have a more complex case involving multiple employers or interstate wages, it can take longer. One action that sometimes helps: If you reach the 4-week mark with no resolution, request to speak specifically with a Tier 2 claims specialist when you call. They have more authority to expedite reviews that have exceeded the normal timeframe.

After trying to get this resolved for weeks, I finally broke down and used Claimyr to reach an agent. The rep I spoke with was actually able to see notes on my account that the previous people couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me. Turns out my former employer was disputing my claim which is why it was taking so long. At least once I knew that I could mentally prepare for the wait instead of checking my account obsessively every day.

good luck! update us when u hear something!

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now! My claim has been "assigned to a worker" for about 2 weeks and I'm getting really anxious about it. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying - sounds like I could be waiting anywhere from another week to another month! 😰 I've been certifying every week like some of you mentioned, but it's so hard not knowing what the actual issue is. Has anyone had success getting a straight answer about WHY their claim was flagged when they call? The reps I've talked to just keep saying "it's under review" but won't give me any specifics.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been waiting 5 weeks since my claim was "assigned to a worker" and I'm about to lose my mind. What's really frustrating is that I called three different times and got three different explanations - first they said it was routine verification, then someone said there was an issue with my separation date, and the last person claimed they couldn't see any notes at all. I've uploaded every document I can think of but there's been zero movement. At this point I'm seriously considering that Claimyr service people mentioned because at least then I might get someone who can actually see what's going on with my case. This whole system feels deliberately designed to wear people down until they just give up.

I'm going through this exact same thing right now and it's beyond frustrating! My claim has been "assigned to a worker" for 2.5 weeks and every time I call they just tell me to "keep waiting" with no timeframe or explanation. What's really getting to me is that I'm continuing to certify every week but seeing $0 in payments while my rent is due next week. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring (I'm not alone) and terrifying (could be waiting weeks more). Has anyone found that contacting your local assembly member or senator helps speed things up? I've heard sometimes political pressure can move things along but not sure if that's just wishful thinking. This whole process feels like it's designed to break you down mentally and financially.

I've been dealing with this "assigned to a worker" status for about 6 weeks now and finally got some movement last week! What worked for me was actually filing a complaint through the NY Department of Labor's online complaint system (separate from calling). Within 3 days of filing the complaint, I got a call back from a supervisor who was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my claim - apparently my previous employer had submitted conflicting information about my last day of work. The supervisor was able to resolve it on the spot once we clarified the dates. I wish I had known about the complaint system earlier instead of just calling repeatedly and getting nowhere. You can find it on the DOL website under "File a Complaint" - definitely worth trying if you've been waiting more than a month with no answers!

I'm in week 2 of having my claim "assigned to a worker" and this thread is both reassuring and terrifying! It's helpful to know I'm not the only one dealing with this black hole of communication, but seeing people wait 5-7 weeks is making me panic about my bills. The complaint system that @Cole mentioned sounds promising - I had no idea that existed! For those of you who eventually got resolution, did you notice any warning signs or updates in your online account before things finally moved, or did it just randomly get approved one day? I'm checking my account obsessively and starting to wonder if I'm missing something. Also keeping up with weekly certifications like everyone recommended, even though it feels pointless right now.

I'm currently on day 10 of having my claim "assigned to a worker" and this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! It's both comforting and anxiety-inducing to see so many people going through the exact same thing. The complaint system that @Cole mentioned is something I definitely didn't know about - that sounds way more promising than the endless phone calls that lead nowhere. I've been certifying weekly but honestly wasn't sure if it was worth it, so thanks to everyone who confirmed that's important for getting backpay later. The part about different reps giving completely different explanations really resonates - I got told it was "routine processing" last week but now I'm wondering if there's actually a specific issue they just won't tell me about. Planning to try the Tier 2 specialist route if I hit 3 weeks, and definitely filing a complaint if I make it to a month. This system is absolutely brutal when you're already stressed about finances!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation and it's driving me insane! My claim has been "assigned to a worker" for almost 3 weeks now and I'm getting different answers every time I call. One rep told me it was just routine verification, another said there might be an issue with my employer information, and the last one couldn't see any notes at all. I've been certifying every week like you mentioned but it's so hard not knowing if I'm doing everything right or if there's some document I'm missing. The complaint system @Cole mentioned sounds like it might actually work - I had no idea that was even an option! Planning to try that if I hit the 4-week mark since the regular phone system clearly isn't designed to help us get real answers. This whole process feels designed to wear you down mentally and financially until you just give up. Thanks for starting this thread - at least now I know I'm not alone in this nightmare!

I'm dealing with this same nightmare right now - my claim has been "assigned to a worker" for exactly 2 weeks today and the uncertainty is killing me! I've called 4 times and gotten completely different answers each time. First rep said "routine processing," second said there might be a wage verification issue, third couldn't see any notes, and the fourth told me to just "keep waiting." Meanwhile my credit card bills are due next week and I have no idea if this will be resolved in days or months! The complaint system @Cole mentioned is totally new information to me - definitely bookmarking that for if I hit the 3-week mark. I've been certifying religiously every Sunday even though it feels pointless when nothing is moving. This thread is honestly the most helpful info I've gotten about this whole process - way more useful than anything the actual DOL reps have told me! It's both reassuring and terrifying to see how many of us are stuck in this same limbo. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines, it helps to know we're not alone in this mess!